The NHL Playoff Thread

I figured I'd start a thread for us hockey fans to discuss the playoffs. Here are the playoff match-ups (I'd like to draw everyone's attention to the fact that my Canucks, who were predicted by many to miss the playoffs, won their division and finished 3rd in the West):

In the East:

(1) Boston - (8) Monteal:

The Habs rallied late and salvaged what looked to be a disasterous season. However, despite the recent playoff history, the Bruins (my 2nd favorite team) are going to overwhelm and defeat the Canadians. I say Bruins in 6.

(2) Washington - New York (7):

Superstar Alexander Ovetchkin leads a talented and very offense-oriented Capitals squard against the defense-first Rangers. The real wildcard in this series is goaltending; Jose Theodore is the picture of inconsistency, and Henrik Lunquist, while lacking in playoff experience, is wildely considered to be a top 5 goaltender in the league. My prediction: Capitals in 7.

(3) New Jersey - (6) Carolina:

Carolina has been on a tear since the trading deadline, while the Devils - who at one point looked like they were on the verge of winning the Presidents Trophy - have been slumping furiously. I'm calling it right now, the surging Hurricanes upset the slumping Devils in a thrilling back-and-forth series. 'Cane in 7 (Lyle celebrates by wildly firing an AK-47 into the sky while speaking in tongues).

(4) Pittsburg - (5) Philideaphia

A few months ago, last years Stanley Cup runners up looked to be in real danger of missing the playoffs, despite have arguably the two best forwards in the game. However, since firing coach Michel Terrien, the Penguins have been on a terrific run. In the first round, they draw the Philidelphia Flyers, a team with perhaps the greatest depth at forward in the East. However, goaltender Marty Biron in a middle of the pack starter, in my mind he is the key to the series. Crosby and Malkin carry the Penguins to victory in 6.

In the West:

(1) San Jose - (8) Anaheim

San Jose has been a Stanley Cup favorite for the last two seasons. However, this team (along with their superstar Joe Thornton) have a history of choking in the playoffs. This year, they were the best team in the entire NHL during the regular season. However, that means nothing now. They've drawn Anaheim, a team who got off to a rocky start but has rebounded well late in the year. Two years removed from their Stanley Cup Championship and with a defense led by future hall of famers Scott Neidermeyer and Chris Pronger, Anaheim may well be the best #8 seed in recent memory. My prediction, the Sharks exorcize the demons of playoffs-past and win in 7.

(2) Detriot - (7) Columbus

The defending champs against the upstart Cinderella team from Columbus. A deadicated fanbase Blue Jackets fanbase gets its first taste of playoff action as Columbus rides into the post-season on the back of a tremendous rookie season from goaltender Steve Mason. If Detriot had even decent goaltending, this match would be a forgone conclusion. However, Osgood has frankly been terrible this year. Despite that, Detriot has the best forward group in the league and arugably the greatest defenseman to ever play the game, while Columbus has a pop-gun offense and the worst powerplay percentage in the entire league. I'll be surprised if Columbus wins more than one game - Detriot in 5.

(3) Vancouver - (6) St. Louis

The two hottest teams in the league since Feb. meet up in an integuing first round match up. On paper, Vancouver has nearly everything in their favor. However, St. Louis has a very deep and talented group of young forwards and a team that plays well above the sum of its parts. Unfortunately for the Blues, the Canucks have arguably the best goalie in the league, a deep defensive corps, and a solid, if middle of the road, offense. Luongo's performance in the '07 playoffs was among the greatest I have ever seen (Don Cherry called him "the best playoff goalie I have ever seen") and he had proven time and again the he possess the trait that all great athletes do - the ability to raise his game and play his best when it matters the most. I think this is a true pick 'em series, but I'm going with Vancouver in 7 based on the strength of Roberto Luongo's goaltending. CFH weeps openly and unashamedly as Roberto Luongo leads the Vancouver Canucks to their first ever Stanley Cup (well, maybe not, but they're going to beat St. Louis).

(4) Chicago - (5) Calgary

The Flames have flat out choked down the stretch this year. At the end of Jan., they had a 13 point lead over Vancouver for the division lead. However, questionable trades at the deadline which led to salary-cap problems saw the Flames unable to call up players to fill in for injured regulars led to the Flames playing several games without a fourth line. Furthermore, Mikka Kiprusoff has been showing signs of serious fatigue as coach Mike Keenan has played him in nearly every game this year. Chicago's young forward group dominated the Flames in the regular season, and the playoffs will be no different. Blackhawks in 5 while I celebrate by bathing in the tears of Flames fans while wearing my Canucks hat.

Go Canucks! For the first time in forever, I really feel like this team has the chance to go deep in the playoffs.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/2007/..._getty_400.jpg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLdMZ...om=PL&index=34

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfU6j...eature=related

Want to marry Luongo much? lol

Ya I'd like to see Vancouver do well. Any Canadian team really as we sorta suck at winning cups nationally. But will otherwise be rooting for the Pens as you know and hell ya they've been coming along nice in the last stretch. :)

YES!!! its playoff time woo woooooooo.

heres my winners of the first round...

Boston vs Montreal
Price looks to have his confidence back and I think this will be the big upset in the first round and there is always an upset.
Montreal in 7

Washington vs New York
Ovechkin, Green, Backstrom, Semin.
Capitals in 5

New Jersey vs Carolina
This one has to go 7 coming down to Brodeur putting on a show
New Jersey in 7

Pittsburgh vs Phili
Pittsburgh in 5 no reason

San Jose vs Anaheim
so happy that San Jose got Anaheim, I think San Jose will take them out but they will be tired and maybe a little beat up after this series.
San Jose in 6

Detroit vs Columbus
this is my upset in the west. Columbus continues there cinderella story and take the series. Detroit I have seen choke a few times early in the play offs and usually against teams they should have beat.
Columbus in 6

Vancouver vs St. Louis
damnit st louis is the one team I didnt want to face first round in the play offs. for some reason they play there best games against the canucks and they have the new canucks killer Oshie. but still im a canucks fan and wont choose against my team.
Vancouver in 4

Chicago vs Calgary
This one really works out perfect. usually Calgary I would say sweeps this series but with only 15 healthy players and against a young fast chicago im saying Chicago takes this one.
Chicago in 6.

this will lead to a beautiful round 2 matchip for the canucks as they will prob play Chicago in the 2nd round. canucks in 4



CFH there is a play off pool going on through officepools with a few people i know in it and its open to everyone if your interested. it will have about 150 people in it and its $20 entry
just choose any 20 players and you get a point for a goal and assist.
just finished the regular season pool with 200 people in it and came in 3rd:cool:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Doot

YES!!! its playoff time woo woooooooo.

heres my winners of the first round...

Boston vs Montreal
Price looks to have his confidence back and I think this will be the big upset in the first round and there is always an upset.
Montreal in 7

Washington vs New York
Ovechkin, Green, Backstrom, Semin.
Capitals in 5

New Jersey vs Carolina
This one has to go 7 coming down to Brodeur putting on a show
New Jersey in 7

Pittsburgh vs Phili
Pittsburgh in 5 no reason

San Jose vs Anaheim
so happy that San Jose got Anaheim, I think San Jose will take them out but they will be tired and maybe a little beat up after this series.
San Jose in 6

Detroit vs Columbus
this is my upset in the west. Columbus continues there cinderella story and take the series. Detroit I have seen choke a few times early in the play offs and usually against teams they should have beat.
Columbus in 6

Vancouver vs St. Louis
damnit st louis is the one team I didnt want to face first round in the play offs. for some reason they play there best games against the canucks and they have the new canucks killer Oshie. but still im a canucks fan and wont choose against my team.
Vancouver in 4

Chicago vs Calgary
This one really works out perfect. usually Calgary I would say sweeps this series but with only 15 healthy players and against a young fast chicago im saying Chicago takes this one.
Chicago in 6.

this will lead to a beautiful round 2 matchip for the canucks as they will prob play Chicago in the 2nd round. canucks in 4



CFH there is a play off pool going on through officepools with a few people i know in it and its open to everyone if your interested. it will have about 150 people in it and its $20 entry
just choose any 20 players and you get a point for a goal and assist.
just finished the regular season pool with 200 people in it and came in 3rd:cool:

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After last years first round with Boston/Montreal, you can guarantee that the B's will take this one. So much hatred between these two teams as of recent, and i'm totally pumped for this series.

I still can't believe it.. Bruins.. #1 seed??

By far the best time to be a sports fan in New England, as far as this past decade goes.. Patriots, Red Sox, Celtics and now all that's left is the Bruins.. Let's GOOOO!!

my girlfriend was sitting beside me watching me post that and she is a die hard Montreal fan and was staring me down so I had to pick them.
but if I was a Boston fan, Montreal would be one of the few teams I wouldn't want to play for the 1st round. its a pick em for me.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Doot

my girlfriend was sitting beside me watching me post that and she is a die hard Montreal fan and was staring me down so I had to pick them.
but if I was a Boston fan, Montreal would be one of the few teams I wouldn't want to play for the 1st round. its a pick em for me.

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hahah, understood.. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying Montreal is a bad team at all.. But i LOVE that they're playing them. It's a reverse from last year, with Boston being the #1 seed this year..

Washington is really the only team i fear Boston playing from the East.

As far as the West goes, Detroit/San Jose are ridiculous.

yea San Jose I think can make it a long way but Detroit I can see being taken out first round with some dodgy goal tending

my team didnt make it this year , ottawa

but soome good matchups

im thinking the devils or the flyers in the east if they can get some goletending

or the sharks or the blackhawks in the west.....

im routing for the flames in the west and the devils in the east not cause im a fan but i like brodure.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Youngblood

Want to marry Luongo much? lol

Ya I'd like to see Vancouver do well. Any Canadian team really as we sorta suck at winning cups nationally. But will otherwise be rooting for the Pens as you know and hell ya they've been coming along nice in the last stretch. :)

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lol, not really. I've found him to be a somewhat frustrating player to watch. He can inconsistent and he dives and whines to the refs far too much for my liking. However, in a playoff series there is no other goalie I would want in net for my team.

I will not cheer for any other Canadians teams if the Canucks lose. I actually feel so sorry for Leafs fans that I've stopped hating their team, so I'd probably cheer for them if they got in. I might cheer for Calgary if Keenan wasn't coaching them, but probably not. The rest of the Canadian teams can fuck off and die.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by CFH

Go Canucks! For the first time in forever, I really feel like this team has the chance to go deep in the playoffs.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/2007/..._getty_400.jpg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLdMZ...om=PL&index=34

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfU6j...eature=related

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my gf is a fan of the canucks

im not

but they got the momentum going into the playoffs as the hottest team since the allstar break.

but i dont think they can do it

and im going againsed them for spite....

cause she dont like my team ottawa

Results from the first night of action in the playoffs:

Vancouver 2 - St. Louis 1

Fuck you St. Louis! Was a good, hard fought game that was absolutely ruined by the terrible officiating which, sadly, has become a hallmark of the NHL. Terrible calls against both teams. It was close early on, but the Canucks absolutely dominated the 3rd period. It the Sedin Twins keep playing like this, all doubts about their ability to perform in the playoffs will be erased. Additionally, Ryan Kesler was a beast.

New York 4 - Washington 3

Booooo! I hate the Rangers and everything they stand for. Goaltending was the story of this one, the Rangers had it and the Caps did not. Lundquist was on top of his game, but Theodore was unimpresive - it seems like all the Rangers had to do was shoot over his shoulders. Ovetchkin had a great game.

Pittsburg 4 - Philadelphia 1

From what I saw, Martin Biron was the story in this one. The Philly goalie looked terrible and nervous all game. Watching Matt Cooke get his face smashed up was also strangely gratifying.

New Jersey 4 - Carolina 1

Didn't see much of this one, but the experienced Jersey team with arguably the best goalie to ever play gets the win.

Fuck me, I just know I'm going to end up like Saddoboxer talking to myself in my thread. It's a shame what has happened to the NHL. In my opinion, it's every bit as exciting as football or basketball (though I can't stand basketball). I remember after the '94 Ranger Stanley Cup victory (boooo!), Sports Illustrated came out with a cover that said something along the lines of "NHL More Popular That the NBA" or something like that. Of course, then the game descended into "dead puck era" - the more boring, defensive, uninteresting and unenteraining epoch the sport has ever seen.

Great first period in the Canucks game. There were 30+ hits in the period, something like 18 of them in the first 5 minutes. The pace is unreal.

The Blues had a few great chances early, Luongo made some huge saves, and the Canucks pretty much dominated from then on. Still 0 - 0 though.

I would suggest watching this game if you're a hockey fan.

Ya it's a good game. Pens worked out ok too. :)